Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010

Summary

Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility of establishing an alternative schedule for rating service-connected disabilities of the musculoskeletal system. Allows the Secretary, in the case of a disability claim with multiple conditions, to assign a disability rating for the condition(s) that can be assigned without further development and to continue development of the remaining condition(s). Requires treating a private medical opinion in support of a claim for disability compensation with the same deference as a medical opinion provided by a VA health care provider. Permits a VA health care provider to provide supplemental information needed to support a private medical opinion. Directs the Secretary to establish a process for the rapid identification of initial disability claims that should receive priority review and adjudication. Requires the Secretary to include with notifications of claim decisions a notice-of-disagreement form that may be used to initiate appellate review of such decision. Requires such forms to be filed within 180 days after notification of a claim decision. Allows an extension of such deadline for up to 186 additional days, for good cause shown. Allows a claimant up to 60 days from the date the post-notice of disagreement decision is mailed to file a substantive appeal. Allows an additional 60 days for such filing, for good cause shown. Requires post-notice of disagreement decisions to include the date by which a substantive appeal must be filed in order to obtain further review. Requires review of a substantive appeal by the Board of Veterans' Appeals, unless the claimant requests review by the agency of original jurisdiction. Requires the Board, upon request by an appellant for a hearing before the Board, to determine the location and manner of appearance for such hearing. Makes such determination final unless the appellant can show good cause for a different location or manner of appearance. Directs the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), in carrying out a review of a Board decision, to render a decision on every issue raised by the appellant. Allows the Court to extend the period for the filing of a notice of appeal of a Board decision by an additional 120 days, for good cause shown. Directs the Secretary to assess the feasibility of carrying out, with local governments and tribal organizations, a pilot program to improve the quality of disability claims submitted by veterans.

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Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 29 November 2010

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• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 29 November 2010

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 29 November 2010

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 22 June 2010

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• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 22 June 2010

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 22 June 2010

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